Landslides, incompetent government men cause 'terrible’ traffic jam

CARRANGLAN, Nueva Ecija — Civilians at the site of mudslides and landslides in Barangay Putlan on the Cagayan Valley Road said lack of coordination between the local authorities and public works and highways personnel compounded the “terrible traffic jam” at the area.

Residents transporting their goods on the roadside said there were small landslides when heavy rains spawned by typhoon “Kiko” hit the area.

At first, the emergency public works and highways people doing the clearing job were on top of the situation.

But with heavy downpour, the softened hillsides started sending down heavy volumes of mudslides and rocks.

Authorities on both sides of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya should have monitored and maintained traffic at the threatened areas of the highway.

As this developed, road anarchy reigned with vehicles defying elementary rules of road courtesy.

The unruly road conduct resulted in the small mountain roads getting clogged.

The vehicles clearing the road of debris were unable to move swiftly, thus contributing to the delay on the main road.

So far, however, nobody had been reported hurt in the heavy traffic jam.

But the long line of stranded vehicles continued to stretch farther out on both sides of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.

“Pray that the rains ease off somehow,” a traffic enforcer said. Meranwhile, a portion of the road here is gaining a reputation as a “killer road.”

A cargo truck tilted dangerously and spilled its cargo of shelled yellow corn, killing in the process the truck helper.

Killed was Edmar Bergado y Duran, 33, single, of Amulong, Tuguegarao, Cagayan. -- MV